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Newport could not lure Bob Dylan back to mark the 50th anniversary of his electric set, but they did get his guitar. The singer’s 1964 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster – which was sold at auction two years ago for $965,000 – was brought back to the festival as part of a set dubbed “Dylan ’65 Revisited.” The set, which closed out the festival Sunday evening, featured a host of current artists covering classic Dylan tunes. Taylor Goldsmith and the other four members of Dawes served as house band, along with folk duo Dave Rawlings and Gillian Welch. Al Kooper, who played with Dylan at the ’65 show, sat in on organ. They were joined by a roving cast of others, including Hozier, Deer Tick’s Ian McCarthy, Willie Watson, Robyn Hitchcock, Blake Mills and First Aid Kit’s Klara Söderberg. Among the songs covered were “Maggie’s Farm,” “Just Like a Woman,” “Queen Jane,” “Visions of Johanna” “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” and of course, “Like a Rolling Stone.” They closed the show not with any obvious choice – such as “I Shall Be Released” – but with a rollicking sing-along of “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.”

Dawg Day Afternoon 2015 | Review/Photos

Bluegrass music is deeply integrated into American musical culture and roots. Yet bluegrass isn’t a pure form. It’s an amalgamation of many preceding styles and individual root systems. None have revealed more about the instrumental beginnings of bluegrass than David “Dawg” Grisman. His mandolin virtuosity was simply too adventurous to not stray from the vein of Kentucky-born grass. Grisman studied and embraced the music of French violinist Stephane Grappelli and guitarist Django Reinhardt whose Hot Club De France band was one of the earliest string instrument only jazz bands.

GD 50 | Soldier Field | Review & Photos

I think that most reasonable Deadheads came into this weekend expecting the music to be good, maybe even great, but not transcendent. I certainly harbored these feelings. And, for the most part, we were served really good to great music. But there were some genuinely transcendent moments. A lot of them were already mentioned as Trey-fueled highlights, like Jack Straw, Scarlet Begonias, Lost Sailor>Saint of Circumstance, China>Rider, and Estimated. Goose bumps for all of them. There were others. Friday night’s Drums was super-intense, with Mickey and Billy eventually creating an Electro-African groove that pulsated through the pores in my skin. The Not Fade Away that led to a continuous NFA clap/chant as the band left the stage after Sunday’s second set closer sent shivers cascading down my back. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the turbo-charged Throwing Stones to close out Set I on Sunday. Holy smokes, I am getting chills just thinking about it 48 hours after the fact.

GD 50 | Santa Clara, CA | Review & Photos

Like Terrapin Station—the narrator’s tale replete with metaphor and imagery while also serving up commentary on narratives and sense-making—I’ll endeavor to make some meaning of this past weekend’s reconvening of the Grateful Dead and the assembled ‘Heads, but meanwhile leave you each and all largely to glean whatever senses you may from the experiences.

Anton & Kimock "In Conversation"

Certain bonds never fade away. It has been quite a while since guitar icon Steve Kimock and legendary drummer Greg Anton have performed together as their original band, Zero. They were the originators of “jam band” before that was even coined or acknowledged. Back then there was a variety of genres. Rock, soul, jazz, blues, on and on, Zero encompassed them all. Along with saxophonist Martin Fierro and bassist Bobby Vega they toured and created beautiful music together for sixteen years. Since then they grew incredible careers and individual identities. Most remarkable of as of recent is drummer Greg Anton, the lawyer, the activist, the powerhouse drummer, and now he’s a novelist.

Stanley Clarke | Yoshi's Jazz Club | Review

It’s easy to cringe when somebody asks the music question, “Who is the best [fill-in-the-blank] player ever?” Opinions are opinions. But really, Stanley Clarke was, has been, and will always be the finest jazz bass player. Some would argue in favor of the alternative orchestral brilliance of Charles Mingus or the bewildering fretless arrangements of Jaco Pastorious, but its Clarke’s longevity and vastly diverse ventures as bandleader and sideman put him right up top. He plays an electric bass with similar fingering of an upright acoustic. Slaps and thrusts accent seamless percussive perfection. Together he and pianist Chick Corea cofounded Return to Forever. The music they created knew no cultural barriers. They played without any notion of genre correctness. This adventurousness became known as fusion, which evolved into the predominantly popular approach for the jazz giants of the 1970s. Nuances of Latin, Cuban, and Eastern melodies are woven into Clarke’s approach, though he was certainly one of the East Coast cats. The optimum double bassist for where jazz was heading.

The Motet & Lettuce Funk the Rain!

Berklee School of Music funk legends, Lettuce was ready to show their stuff. They have been laying down the funk for over two decades, and they are no strangers to Red Rocks. Guitarist Eric Krasno started out playing keys for the first few songs before returning to the instrument that he shreds on. The band played “Squad Live,” and the water logged crowd shook themselves dry. After a long funk session, Lettuce played a few spacey jams before they led “Madison Square” with a “Have a Cigar” by Pink Floyd tease. Drummer Adam Deitch never fails to show his energy and skill, and on “Do It Like You Do,” he demonstrated that funk rhythm while singer Nigel Hall sang into the now clear Colorado sky.

Wakarusa 2015 | Review and Photos

Wakarusa, long known as the one of the best eclectic celebrations in the country, offered a smorgasbord of events to highlight the weekend. Arriving early, one of the most noticeable features was the art. Instillations of all mediums were found all over the sanctuary that was Mulberry Mountain. I particularly enjoyed finding an escape from the party in a mini art gallery that featured the work of various on-site vendors. It was the unconventional mediums like bamboo, cd’s, and other things I would never think to create with that had me the most mesmerized.

Samantha Fish | Fayetteville, AR | Review

Though they’re just a 3-piece band, the Samantha Fish sound is powerful. It rocks, it wails, it carries the crowd through the night with time seeming to pass by as quickly as the train that blared its horn at the perfect moment during the opening song “Road Runner.” With prowess and power, Samantha Fish band sped through the 2-hour set with near perfection.

Old Crow Medicine Show | Red Rocks

The sun finally came out, and there was a full moon on the horizon. There is no better place to enjoy rocking Americana string band music then Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The bill on this night had two heavy hitting, fast growing, old-time playing bands from two different parts of the country. The Devil Makes Three comes from Santa Cruz, California, and they bring a sort of punk, pirate, darkness flavor to their Americana bluegrass. Old Crow Medicine Show comes from Nashville, Tennessee, and they bring an alternative country folk side to their Americana bluegrass. Together, it was a night to remember.

Xavier Rudd & the United Nations with Mike Love

Experiencing these musicians in one of the most beautiful places to see live music, the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, CO was a wonderful experience and a memory that will stay. The landscapes that surround the foothills of Boulder make an aesthetic canvas for a perfect evening. There were people having picnics on the lawn, while others threw Frisbees under the setting sun. While inside the giant barn type structure, the amount of talent that oozes out of both the opener Mike Love and Xavier Rudd is something that every person needs to see for themselves. Not only do they both make their listeners feel really good, but they also are some of the best at their crafts in the business. The combination is what made this a night to remember.

Sights, sounds and sit-ins – This year’s Summer Camp Music Festival was nothing short of spectacular. The 15th annual Memorial Day extravaganza featured a cast of usual suspects such as moe. and Umphrey’s McGee, some up-and-coming talent like funk connoisseurs TAUK and Twiddle, along with classic old-school rockers such as Steve Miller Band and the Violent Femmes. Featuring an eclectic blend of experimental rock, bluegrass, electronic and many others, Summer Camp Music Festival 2015 had a little bit of something for music lovers of all types.

Steve Kimock with Bob Weir | Sweetwater

Lane, Chimenti, and Kimock all performed as part of Bob Weir’s band RatDog, and bassist Bobby Vega goes back just as far. The quartet opened with Kimock tunes “Cole’s Law” and “Bad Hair.” As customary, the first few tunes began ambient and evolved into passionate harmonious ecstasy. Clearly locked in from the beginning, the band welcomed out the talented Leslie Mendelson who had sat in previously during the weekend. Her guitar, keyboards, and most striking vocals augmented the powerhouse group. Then suddenly emerges Mr. Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist and vocalist of Grateful Dead. Looking healthy, energetic and eager to jam, the beloved musician cooled the audience’s awestruck response in his laid-back demeanor. Kimock and friends launched into a “Shakedown Street” for the ages. Bobby’s vocals were crisp and controlled. His string slinging was cooperative and thoughtful. The jamming that ensued prompted Jay Lane to proclaim, “That was fucking funky!”

Dark Star Jubilee 2015 | Review & Photos

What a magical weekend it was indeed at the Dark Star Jubilee. Each year is just as good as the last if not better. I had the honor of attending this festival for the fourth year in a row out at Legend Valley, Ohio over Memorial Day weekend. There are so many positive things to be said about this festival. It is a world of its own filled with beautiful music, positive people, smiles in every direction, and of course Grateful Dead Tunes.

It was bound to happen that the San Francisco-based Brothers Comatose, one of the hottest bohemian bluegrass bands on the circuit would wind up pickin’ and grinnin’ from the Terrapin Crossroads stage at Phil Lesh’s lair in San Rafael, California. On May 9 it came to pass, tearing up the Grate Room with the Terrapin Family Band, featuring Phil Lesh, along for the ride. Before the night was out, The Brothers Comatose ran through a set as a band of eight with Terrapin Family Band members Ross James, Alex Koford, and Lesh, the patriarch himself; had a few surprise visits to the mic from Nicki Bluhm; and a closing sequence turned upside-down due to a fiddle-string incident.

Elephant Revival | Fayetteville, AR | Review

Truly, nostalgia and history flowed through the band’s performance, with Bonnie recalling her first time at George’s Majestic Lounge at the age of 14. Back then, the Garden Room was truly a garden – an outdoor stage with vines twisting around the rafters. Dance floor exposed to the elements, rain started pouring during Bonnie’s first show there: Randy Crouch.

Grateful Web Interview with Neal Casal

The Grateful Web’s John Schumm caught up with Neal as CRB’s tour heads toward Colorado for three nights: this Friday and Saturday at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, and Sunday at Mishawaka Amphitheatre on the banks of the Poudre River. Neal spoke candidly about CRB’s collective mentality as they continue pushing into new territory both in their live shows and penmanship, the Grateful Dead’s influence on their vision and what it means to be your own musician in a scene of similarities.

Grateful Web Interview with Leo Nocentelli

Founding Meters funk guitarist Leo Nocentelli is set to premier his exciting new incarnation of The Meters Experience. Founding Parliament Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell will join Nocentelli for two nights of funk classics at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. The guitarist took time after a monumental reunion with the original Meters at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to talk about the classics he penned, his relationship with his brothers in music, and the exciting collaboration to come.

Grateful Web Interview with Joel Cummins

From their latest release The London Session recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in England, to their four-quarter fan interactive jam extravaganza fittingly titled UMBowl, the boys from Umphrey’s McGee have developed into a genre-defying powerhouse that only grows by the day. Keyboardist extraordinaire Joel Cummins recently sat down with the Grateful Web to discuss their latest release, how UMBowl came to be, along with what’s in store for guys in 2015 and beyond.

Disco Biscuits | Ogden Theater | 4/15/15

This was the first night of a series of hyped up, Grateful Dead infused, powerful shows that lasted almost a week. There were three shows at the Ogden Theatre, one Bisco Inferno extravaganza featuring Break Science and Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann on drums, and a Billy & the Kids show at the Ogden featuring Bill Kreutzmann, Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits), Tom Hamilton (American Babies, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and Reed Mathis (Tea Leaf Green). To add to the excitement of the Billy & the Kids show, local favorites, Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident, EOTO) and Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic) joined the Kids as special guests.